Happy Birthday Rosie!

Rudy's mom's birthday always creeps up on us, but this time we were ready!  Rudy and I decided that we would make a birthday cake from scratch.  Well, kinda.  We bought strawberry cake mix and cream cheese frosting.  Oh!  And we bought blue sparkle icing and sprinkles.  But other than that, it was completely from scratch.

Well, anyway, we made two 9-inch rounds because we wanted to make a cake with filling.  We baked the cakes and let them cool.  We made the filling and filled the piping bags (really they were just big freezer bags, but piping bags sound so much better).  We got out the spatula and serving tray.  The only thing we couldn't get out was those damn cake rounds!  They were cemented in!  Poor Rudy had to pound the backs of the tins and try to loosen them with the knives for what seemed like hours.  And finally, success!  After that, it was a piece of cake (YES!  The pun was totally intended.).

 

So, we made a strawberry cake with strawberry filing topped off with cream cheese frosting.  Complete with a sparkly blue birthday message.   So...
 

Happy Birthday Rosie!

 

Tiliapia Tails

I have been obsessing over mangoes.  It's summer. It's hot. And mangoes are so freaking good during the summer!  I had to concoct a way to get my fill, aside from devouring them straight off the pit.  Rudy and I have also been on a fish kick (or at least I have, and he's being joyfully dragged along for the ride), and I thought a nice mango salsa would be the perfect compliment for some fish!  As I found out tonight, I was sooooo right! 

Mango Salsa
1 ripe mango
1/2 medium red onion
2 roma tomatoes
1 jalapeno (remember, the smaller they are, they hotter they are)
1 lemon
salt

Dice the mango, onion, and tomatoes into similar size pieces.  This doesn't have to be perfect, and the chunkier, the better!  Chop the top of the jalapeno open, and slice it down the middle.  The more of the white part (also known as the ribs of the pepper) and seeds you take out, the less heat will be in the salsa. Cut the lemon in half and add the juice to the mango mixture.  Stir everything to combine.  Add salt to taste.

Now, I know I don't need to remind you, but I will anyway.  Just in case your brain was accidentally left under the bed.  DO NOT RUB YOUR EYES (or pick your nose, or scratch your rump for that matter) AFTER HANDLING JALAPENOS!  You will sorely regret doing this.  If you do this, however, grab the nearest towel and douse it in milk.  Then, rub this milky towel on your eyes.  Trust me.  It works.

Now I cooked up some tilapia I had marinated, and topped it with this mango salsa.  I served this over noodles and with a side of edimame. 

Now, this one did not turn out to be plated well.  The tilapia kept falling apart.  And, as it turned out, the whole plate tumbled over onto the floor and could not be saved.  I had to start all over.

Oh well.  Better luck next time.